October 30, 2019

Sabah, Malaysia temporarily suspends import of pork products following ASF discovery

The Malaysian state of Sabah will suspend the import of pork products after DNA traces of the African swine fever virus is found in a sample obtained from a canned lucheon pork in Sarawak, New Straits Times reported on October 29. 

The State Agriculture and Food Industry (Mafi) ministry is taking preventive measures in light of this development, said Minister Datuk Junz Wong.

"Mafi, via the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), will conduct a meeting with all the relevant departments, including health, tomorrow," he told the New Straits Times.

"We will zero in on outlets selling these (imported pork) products after the meeting to launch a concerted effort by the relevant authorities to ensure Sabah is safe and free from the said virus."

Sarawak has enforced a temporary ban on pork and pork-based products imported from ASF-affected countries, including China, on October 27.

This came after the Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services detected DNA of the ASF virus in one of 17 canned luncheon pork imported from China that underwent laboratory testing on October 25.

- New Straits Times